magnetosphere

noun

mag·​ne·​to·​sphere mag-ˈnē-tə-ˌsfir 

-ˈne-

: a region of space surrounding a celestial object (such as a planet or star) that is dominated by the object's magnetic field so that charged particles are trapped in it

magnetospheric

mag-ˌnē-tə-ˈsfir-ik 

-ˈsfer-

-ˌne-

adjective

Examples of magnetosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The anomalous state of Uranus’s magnetosphere during the Voyager 2 flyby NASA. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2025

However, Earth's magnetosphere deflects this stream of particles away from the planet. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025

During this time, Earth’s magnetic field weakens slightly, allowing the solar wind to interact more directly with the magnetosphere. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Voyager 2’s data indicated Uranus’s protective magnetic field, called a magnetosphere, contained incredibly intense electron radiation belts and was—unlike other nearby planets—basically devoid of plasma. —Christie Wilcox, science.org, 12 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

magneto- + -sphere

Note: Term introduced by the Austrian-born physicist Thomas Gold (1920-2004) in "Motions in the Magnetosphere of the Earth," Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 64, no. 9 (September, 1959), pp. 1219-24.

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for magnetosphere

• acyclovir
• asthenosphere
• ganciclovir
• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere
• mesosphere

Kids Definition

magnetosphere

noun

mag·​ne·​to·​sphere mag-ˈnēt-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

-ˈnet-

: a region of space around an object (as a planet or star) that is dominated by the object's magnetic field